A Response to Four Views on Hell, Pt. 1 (Denny Burk on Eternal Torment)

In the discussion of hell, Denny Burk has a very significant advantage; his interpretation is the majority opinion. What cannot be disputed in this discussion is that over the course of 2000 years of Church history the majority (though of course not all) of Christian theological writing has presented that those who reject the Gospel of Jesus Christ will experience eternal conscious torment (ECT) in hell. But one of the things which becomes apparent in reading Denny Burk’s chapter in Four Views on Hell (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 20161 – for a chance to win a copy enter here) is that the scriptural basis for this view being the majority is far more flimsy than this view’s advocates would have us believe. Even though John Stackhouse, Robin Parry, and Preston Sprinkle pointed out several problems (there will be considerable overlap below) there is still much in Burk’s presentation to be covered.2Burk begins his essay with a quote (p. 17) from John Stott, in which Stott states his revulsion at the idea of ECT: “I find the concept intolerable and do not understand how people can live with it without either cauterizing their feelings or cracking under the strain”. It seems that Burk is suggesting that those like Stott who question ECT do so because of an emotional revulsion to the idea of ECT. However, had Burk presented the whole thought Stott presented instead of the one sentence quoted, one would get a very different picture. What Stott states immediately after the quoted text is this:

But our emotions are a fluctuating, unreliable guide to truth and must not be exalted to the place of supreme authority in determining it. As a committed Evangelical, my question must be—and is—not what my heart tells me, but what does God’s word say? And in order to answer this question, we need to survey the Biblical material afresh and to open our minds (not just our hearts) to the possibility that Scripture points in the direction of annihilationism, and that ‘eternal conscious torment’ is a tradition which has to yield to the supreme authority of Scripture.3)

So while Denny Burk claims the exegetical high ground by straw-manning those who disagree as sentimentalists, what becomes clear very quickly is that things are not as Denny Burk would have us believe. Even J.I. Packer, among the most staunch opponents of Stott and British New Testament scholar John Wenham, wrote, “Both men adopted annihilationism . . . not because it fitted into their comfort zone, though it did, but because they found it in the Bible.”4
So the real question is does Scripture support Denny Burk’s view (that of the majority of Christian theology historically speaking, and certainly the majority among evangelicals today)? Burk writes, “The burden of this essay will be to explain what the relevant texts of Scripture actually teach”.(18) The problem with this statement is twofold; first Burk restricts the discussion of “relevant texts” to a grand total of 10 texts, which he insists clearly demonstrate that the lost will be tormented consciously without end. Burk argues that these 10 passages demonstrate that hell is 1) final separation, 2) unending experience, and 3) just retribution. The number of relevant texts which speak to the final punishment of the wicked is of course much greater than 10 (which I’m sure Burk would acknowledge). The research done by John Wenham5 presented 264 texts which refer “to the fate of the of the lost.”6 Therefore, to select 10 texts is to leave out roughly 96% of the data. Obviously no single essay of the scope of Burk’s can cover all of this data, but certainly we should expect greater than 10 if the case for ECT is so overwhelmingly obvious in the biblical witness. Second, this selective presentation of the data becomes even more alarming when we realize that at least 5 of these 10 texts which are supposed to clearly teach ECT7 cannot be read as evidence for ECT using any sort of responsible hermeneutics.
But before we examine these texts, it is important to note Burk’s other tactic before he does any actual exegesis. Burk begins with a parable; a grotesque and bizarre parable involving people pulling legs off of a variety of creatures. The purpose of the parable is make us believe that the punishment for sin is relative to “the value and worth of the one being sinned against.”(19) Therefore, because God is of infinite value and worth, sin against God is deserving of an infinite punishment. The problem is that this is stated precisely nowhere in Scripture. Instead, we see evidence in Scripture which actually says that punishment for sin is equal to the nature of the sin, not the victim of the sin. The lex talionis of the Mosaic covenant lays out the principle of “eye for an eye” (). Death, that is capital punishment, is prescribed for certain severe sins. But the infliction of torment- physical, corporeal punishment- is very rarely prescribed, and when it is, the duration and severity is restricted significantly. For example:

If the guilty person deserves to be beaten, the judge shall make them lie down and have them flogged in his presence with the number of lashes the crime deserves, but the judge must not impose more than forty lashes. If the guilty party is flogged more than that, your fellow Israelite will be degraded in your eyes. (, emphasis added).

This text shows that going above 40 lashes for any crime which deserves lashes would be unjust and degrades an Israelite, and is not permitted. In other words, inflicting prolonged physical torment is unbiblical and ungodly. Burk has an embedded presupposition that God must punish with ECT8, and it is through this lens which Burk reads the 10 texts he identifies as relevant, and the result is a case of eisegesis- reading a previously held view into a text where it simply isn’t present, and is actually in tension with other biblical data. We don’t have space to deal with all these texts in fine detail in this particular post unfortunately. But I’d like to offer some important observations.
In – Burk’s “Foundation #1″(21-24)- we read of God’s decisive defeat against the enemies of God and of his people, in which the wicked are slain (66:16), and the corpses are viewed by the righteous who go out and view them with contempt (or as “an abhorrence”, 66:24 NRSV), as the bodies are consumed by unquenchable fire and undying worms. However, Burk makes the blunder of arguing “Though not mentioned specifically in this text, this scene seems to assume that God’s enemies have been given a body fit for an unending punishment.”(23, emphasis added) To which John Stackhouse has quite rightly responded: “I suggest that it is not ‘the text’ that is doing the assuming here.”(46) The text itself gives absolutely no indication that anything but dead bodies are in view, since the text says “dead bodies” or “corpses”. To argue dead bodies should be read as consciously tormented human beings simply distorts the text, and the notion has be read into the text. This text from Isaiah is quoted in – Burk’s “Foundation #5” (31-33), in which Jesus gives no significant modification, except adding a specific location- gehenna. Unless there is reason to believe Jesus modifies Isaiah’s intended meaning (there isn’t9) we should conclude that Jesus has in view the same thing Isaiah does; death.
Also interesting in the Isaiah text is the use of the term “contempt” (or “abhorrance” or “loathsome” depending on your English translation). The Hebrew root word is used precisely twice in the Old Testament, and in a different form in , which is Burk’s second foundational text (24-26). The latter verse reads; “Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” As John Stackhouse notes in his response, the word contempt does not refer to the experience of the object (the corpses in , and those who do not receive eternal life here in ) but to the disgust with which the righteous view those on the other side of God’s judgment (46-47). So already, these three of Burk’s 10 texts say nothing about an unending experience, and two speak of the very opposite. could at best be considered ambiguous, but since only one group receives eternal life, the other group is excluded from eternal life, meaning eternal torment is unlikely. These texts point moreso in the direction of conditional immortality.
The same can be said of , and & 13. The “eternal fire” mentioned in Jude is equated with Sodom and Gomorrah (the Sodom and Gomorrah typology is also used in 2 Peter with even stronger annihilationist language). Therefore, “eternal fire” used in the context of Sodom and Gomorrah would make far more sense as a “fire of the aeon/age”10; an eschatalogical judgement which brings about complete destruction. Nowhere in these texts is an unending conscious experience of torment connected to the fire. Fire is frequently used as an image of complete destruction.11
Paul nowhere speaks of an unending experience of punishment or torment. He speaks of death, perishing, destruction. Even in in which the phrase “eternal destruction” is used, this hardly makes sense to read as an unending experience. As John Stott notes;

It would seem strange, therefore, if people who are said to suffer destruction are in fact not destroyed; and, as you put it, it is ‘difficult to imagine a perpetually inconclusive process of perishing’.12

Further, the “eternal destruction” mentioned by Paul in is “from the presence of the Lord”.13 To be “destroyed from the presence of the Lord” would not indicate an unending experience, but a permanent end, especially if we continue to uphold the omnipresence of God. To be eternally destroyed from his presence, is to be forever dead, reduced to non-being, or as Athanasius worded it “everlastingly bereft even of being” (On the Incarnation, 4.5).
This leaves us with 3 texts which could speak of ECT. These three are of course the most complicated and often relied on (, , & ). But given the tidal wave of exegetical evidence from the rest of the biblical data, which gives at least a very strong sense of those who reject the offer of eternal ceasing to have life, we have three options: 1) we can ask if these three texts can trump the dozens of verses that speak of death, perishing, destruction as the final end of the unredeemed 2) we re-examine these three passages to see if they can be read differently or 3) we throw up our hands and say the Bible simply contains contradictions. I’d suggest option 2 is the best option. Though many would claim these texts make conditional immortality an impossibility, I would say this is not the case; they actually fit very nicely when we read them more carefully. is probably the weakest of the three in support of ECT. reads: “And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” Burk argues that these two fates parallel each other- both are eternal.(29) But I would suggest Jesus is making a contrast- eternal life or it’s opposite; eternal death. One group enters into life, the other is excluded eternally from life. The phrase “eternal punishment” does not have to mean “eternal punishing”, that is, it doesn’t grammatically have to mean an ongoing experience. It can (and, in my mind, almost certainly does) mean a punishment handed down once which is irreversible. The adjective aionion, paired with a deverbal noun (in this case kolasin) occurs 6 times in the New Testament (one being , briefly mentioned above). The most relevant here is of course (noted by Preston Sprinkle in his conclusion, 194): “he entered once for all into the Holy Place, not with the blood of goats and calves, but with his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.” Here we see a one time act securing an eternal redemption (aionian lutrosin). As Edward Fudge has pointed out, the 5 occurrences of deverbal nouns with the adjective aionion other than cannot refer to an unending experience.14 In other words, actually makes more sense when read as something other than eternal torment.15
This leaves 2 passages, both in Revelation. Given the apocalyptic nature of Revelation, much care should be taken not to be overly literal, and to see the overall flow of the text as a whole. is tricky, and one can see how a surface reading of these 2 verse in isolation might lead one to see ECT here. However, it is important to note a few things; first, is it final punishment? We also have a description of judgement in ; are the two both speaking of the same thing? In a following verse we read: “And I heard a voice from heaven saying, ‘Write this: Blessed are the dead who from now on die in the Lord.'” (14:13) If the Saints are still dying while this torment is happening, how can we say this is final judgement, since following final judgment, death is no more ()? Second, if this punishment is torment in the presence of the Lamb (14:10), how does this fit with and other passages which speak of being outside the presence of the Lord (and the argument of Burk himself who argues one of the three main features of hell is “eternal separation”)? Third, what are the images of fire and sulphur and smoke rising speaking to? These are of course drawn from and , in which smoke rising speaks of complete destruction of cities by fire and sulphur. It would seem this text is speaking in symbols and images of something other than final judgement, and something which perhaps is best not read literally. These simple questions, at the very least, cast serious doubt on Burk’s conclusion that & 20:10, 14-15 are “two of the most important passages in Scripture describing the final state of the wicked… is a scene of the final judgment that describes what happens to those who worship ‘the beast and his image'”.(39)
When we get to , we see the devil, the beast, and the false prophet thrown into the Lake of Fire, “and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” (20:10) Then a few verses later we read, “Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire; and anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.” (20:14-15) Again, a surface reading might suggest that those who will not be welcomed into the New Heavens and the New Earth are thrown into hell along with the devil, the beast, and the false prophet to be tormented forever and ever. However, we have to ask, first, who or what are the devil, the beast, and the false prophet? These are certainly not human beings. We don’t have space here to unpack a full theology of Satan/the devil. However, it is definitely worth noting that tells us that in death Jesus “might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil”. The beast and the false prophet are likely symbols of imperial power and false religion/idolatry. How do these things, as well as Hades, that is death itself, suffer an “unending experience” of torment in the Lake of Fire?
Second, torment is not said to be the experience of humans thrown into the Lake of Fire. Instead we are told, “This is the second death.” Burk refers to this as “‘the second death’ that never ends”.(41) In other words, an unending process of dying. However, the logic of that is hard swallow. If the person said to be dying will never actually die, they aren’t dying. Any unending experience can hardly be called dying. An unending state of being dead however makes complete sense. Further, in the next chapter of Revelation we read, “There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (). If “the second death” is perpetual dying and torment, how can Scripture speak of the New Creation as a place free from death, mourning, crying, and pain?16
Finally, in Burk’s conclusion, he writes regarding the implications for our broader theology, suggesting that “the existence of hell serves to demonstrate eternally the glory of God’s justice in his judgment on sin.”(42) This argument has always bothered me- God is glorified in ensuring that human beings writhe in agony for all time? A biblical theology of the character of God, and of justice would actually suggest the opposite is true. As I’ve argued elsewhere, ECT is actually an affront to God’s justice and character. So even though Burk claims “The weight of the scriptural arguments above should be enough to settle the issue even if our lingering objections are never fully resolved in this life”(42); to this claim I say a resounding “no, absolutely not”. The scriptural arguments are incredibly weak, and poor, unsatisfactory arguments like this one, and John Walvoord’s in the first edition of Four Views on Hell, advocating for ECT are among the key reasons I jettisoned the notion of eternal torment. I don’t think this view fits with the biblical evidence, and this presentation from Burk falls short on all fronts. The responses from Stackhouse, Parry, and Sprinkle in this new edition of Four Views effectively demonstrate the obvious problems with the argument Burk has presented. This isn’t to say there aren’t problems with the other chapters, and in the coming posts, I will be almost as harsh in my criticisms- yes, even with John Stackhouse, with whom I am in basic agreement. But of the four presentations, Burk and Walls (both of whom advocate for ECT but with variations) are clearly the weakest.

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Many thanks to Zondervan for providing copies of this book to Rethinking Hell contributors. [↩]

The same can be said of the other contributions which will be reviewed in the near future [↩]

I believe all 10 are poor evidence for ECT, but 5 of these texts Burk cites- , , , , and (which Burk treats as 2 passages instead treating 7-13 as a single textual unit) are not only poor evidence for ECT but actually present death, not eternal torment as the fate of those on the wrong side of judgment. [↩]

For a more extensive look at the issue of holiness, justice, and eternal torment, I wrote a response for the rethinking hell blog here. [↩]

The Apocryphal Jewish text Judith for instance uses the same image of flames and worms, but shifts the language to make eternal torment seem like the intended picture: “Woe to the nations that rise up against my people! The Lord Almighty will take vengeance on them in the day of judgment; he will send fire and worms into their flesh; they shall weep in pain forever.” (Judith 16:17) But in , Jesus is quoted as using Isaiah’s wording with no discernable change in meaning. It would appear Mark’s quotation of Jesus paints the same picture as Isaiah; “Nothing less than eternal life and death is at stake” R.T. France. The Gospel of Mark (NIGTC). (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2002), 383. [↩]

The adjective usually translated eternal is frequently used by Jewish authors to designate of or belonging to a certain age, this age, or the age to come. [↩]

e.g. , where the fiery furnace burns up (Greek katakaio, an intensified form of the verb to burn) the chaff. Or which says God is a consuming fire. See also I. Howard Marshall, New Testament Theology, (Downer’s Grove: IVP Academic, 2004), 666. [↩]

22 “For as the new heavens and the new earththat I makeshall remain before me, says the Lord,so shall your offspring and your name remain.23 From new moon to new moon,and from Sabbath to Sabbath,all flesh shall come to worship before me,declares the Lord.

24 “And they shall go out and look on the dead bodies of the men who have rebelled against me. For their worm shall not die, their fire shall not be quenched, and they shall be an abhorrence to all flesh.”

42 “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.43 And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire.45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell.47 And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell,48 ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’

6 since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, 7 and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels 8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, 10 when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.

7 just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.

13 wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever.

23 But if there is harm, then you shall pay life for life, 24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.

2 then if the guilty man deserves to be beaten, the judge shall cause him to lie down and be beaten in his presence with a number of stripes in proportion to his offense. 3 Forty stripes may be given him, but not more, lest, if one should go on to beat him with more stripes than these, your brother be degraded in your sight.

22 “For as the new heavens and the new earththat I makeshall remain before me, says the Lord,so shall your offspring and your name remain.23 From new moon to new moon,and from Sabbath to Sabbath,all flesh shall come to worship before me,declares the Lord.

24 “And they shall go out and look on the dead bodies of the men who have rebelled against me. For their worm shall not die, their fire shall not be quenched, and they shall be an abhorrence to all flesh.”

9:1 And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.”

2 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, 3 and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. 4 And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. 5 And Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 6 For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. 7 And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” 8 And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only.

9 And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead might mean. 11 And they asked him, “Why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?” 12 And he said to them, “Elijah does come first to restore all things. And how is it written of the Son of Man that he should suffer many things and be treated with contempt?13 But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him.”

14 And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them. 15 And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him. 16 And he asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?”17 And someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. 18 And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.” 19 And he answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.”20 And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. 21 And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. 22 And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” 23 And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.”24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” 25 And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.”26 And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. 28 And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” 29 And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”

30 They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he did not want anyone to know, 31 for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.”32 But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him.

33 And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?”34 But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. 35 And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”36 And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”

38 John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” 39 But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me.40 For the one who is not against us is for us.41 For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward.

42 “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.43 And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire.45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell.47 And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell,48 ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’49 For everyone will be salted with fire.50 Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”

9:1 And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.”

2 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, 3 and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. 4 And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. 5 And Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 6 For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. 7 And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” 8 And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only.

9 And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead might mean. 11 And they asked him, “Why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?” 12 And he said to them, “Elijah does come first to restore all things. And how is it written of the Son of Man that he should suffer many things and be treated with contempt?13 But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him.”

14 And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them. 15 And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him. 16 And he asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?”17 And someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. 18 And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.” 19 And he answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.”20 And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. 21 And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. 22 And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” 23 And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.”24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” 25 And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.”26 And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. 28 And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” 29 And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”

30 They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he did not want anyone to know, 31 for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.”32 But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him.

33 And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?”34 But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. 35 And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”36 And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”

38 John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” 39 But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me.40 For the one who is not against us is for us.41 For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward.

42 “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.43 And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire.45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell.47 And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell,48 ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’49 For everyone will be salted with fire.50 Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”

66:1 Thus says the Lord:“Heaven is my throne,and the earth is my footstool;what is the house that you would build for me,and what is the place of my rest?2 All these things my hand has made,and so all these things came to be,declares the Lord.But this is the one to whom I will look:he who is humble and contrite in spiritand trembles at my word.

3 “He who slaughters an ox is like one who kills a man;he who sacrifices a lamb, like one who breaks a dog’s neck;he who presents a grain offering, like one who offers pig’s blood;he who makes a memorial offering of frankincense, like one who blesses an idol.These have chosen their own ways,and their soul delights in their abominations;4 I also will choose harsh treatment for themand bring their fears upon them,because when I called, no one answered,when I spoke, they did not listen;but they did what was evil in my eyesand chose that in which I did not delight.”

5 Hear the word of the Lord,you who tremble at his word:“Your brothers who hate youand cast you out for my name’s sakehave said, ‘Let the Lord be glorified,that we may see your joy’;but it is they who shall be put to shame.

6 “The sound of an uproar from the city!A sound from the temple!The sound of the Lord,rendering recompense to his enemies!

7 “Before she was in laborshe gave birth;before her pain came upon hershe delivered a son.8 Who has heard such a thing?Who has seen such things?Shall a land be born in one day?Shall a nation be brought forth in one moment?For as soon as Zion was in laborshe brought forth her children.9 Shall I bring to the point of birth and not cause to bring forth?”says the Lord;“shall I, who cause to bring forth, shut the womb?”says your God.

10 “Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her,all you who love her;rejoice with her in joy,all you who mourn over her;11 that you may nurse and be satisfiedfrom her consoling breast;that you may drink deeply with delightfrom her glorious abundance.”

12 For thus says the Lord:“Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river,and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream;and you shall nurse, you shall be carried upon her hip,and bounced upon her knees.13 As one whom his mother comforts,so I will comfort you;you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.14 You shall see, and your heart shall rejoice;your bones shall flourish like the grass;and the hand of the Lord shall be known to his servants,and he shall show his indignation against his enemies.

15 “For behold, the Lord will come in fire,and his chariots like the whirlwind,to render his anger in fury,and his rebuke with flames of fire.16 For by fire will the Lord enter into judgment,and by his sword, with all flesh;and those slain by the Lord shall be many.

17 “Those who sanctify and purify themselves to go into the gardens, following one in the midst, eating pig’s flesh and the abomination and mice, shall come to an end together, declares the Lord.

18 “For I know their works and their thoughts, and the time is coming to gather all nations and tongues. And they shall come and shall see my glory, 19 and I will set a sign among them. And from them I will send survivors to the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, who draw the bow, to Tubal and Javan, to the coastlands far away, that have not heard my fame or seen my glory. And they shall declare my glory among the nations. 20 And they shall bring all your brothers from all the nations as an offering to the Lord, on horses and in chariots and in litters and on mules and on dromedaries, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, says the Lord, just as the Israelites bring their grain offering in a clean vessel to the house of the Lord. 21 And some of them also I will take for priests and for Levites, says the Lord.

22 “For as the new heavens and the new earththat I makeshall remain before me, says the Lord,so shall your offspring and your name remain.23 From new moon to new moon,and from Sabbath to Sabbath,all flesh shall come to worship before me,declares the Lord.

24 “And they shall go out and look on the dead bodies of the men who have rebelled against me. For their worm shall not die, their fire shall not be quenched, and they shall be an abhorrence to all flesh.”

2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

24 “And they shall go out and look on the dead bodies of the men who have rebelled against me. For their worm shall not die, their fire shall not be quenched, and they shall be an abhorrence to all flesh.”

2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.

7 “Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes!8 And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire.9 And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire.

9 They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,

7 just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.

13:1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. 2 And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. 3 And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow.4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them.5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil,6 but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away.7 Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them.8 Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.9 He who has ears, let him hear.”

10 Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” 11 And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.12 For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.13 This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.14 Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says:

“‘You will indeed hear but never understand,and you will indeed see but never perceive.15 For this people’s heart has grown dull,and with their ears they can barely hear,and their eyes they have closed,lest they should see with their eyesand hear with their earsand understand with their heartand turn, and I would heal them.’

16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.17 For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

18 “Hear then the parable of the sower:19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path.20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy,21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.23 As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”

24 He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field,25 but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away.26 So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also.27 And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’28 He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’29 But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them.30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.’”

31 He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field.32 It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”

33 He told them another parable. “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.”

34 All these things Jesus said to the crowds in parables; indeed, he said nothing to them without a parable. 35 This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet:

“I will open my mouth in parables;I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world.”

36 Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” 37 He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man.38 The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one,39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the close of the age, and the reapers are angels.40 Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the close of the age.41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers,42 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.

44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls,46 who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind.48 When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad.49 So it will be at the close of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous50 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

51 “Have you understood all these things?” They said to him, “Yes.” 52 And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.”

53 And when Jesus had finished these parables, he went away from there, 54 and coming to his hometown he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works? 55 Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? 56 And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” 57 And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.”58 And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.

29 for our God is a consuming fire.

9 They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,

9 They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,

31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’44 Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’45 Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

9 And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.”

10 and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Revelation 20:14-15

14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’44 Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’45 Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

9 They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,

12 he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.

46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

9 And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.”

20:1 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. 2 And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, 3 and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while.

4 Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.

7 And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. 9 And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, 10 and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. 13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. 14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

9 They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,

19:1 The two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed himself with his face to the earth 2 and said, “My lords, please turn aside to your servant’s house and spend the night and wash your feet. Then you may rise up early and go on your way.” They said, “No; we will spend the night in the town square.” 3 But he pressed them strongly; so they turned aside to him and entered his house. And he made them a feast and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.

4 But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man, surrounded the house. 5 And they called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, that we may know them.” 6 Lot went out to the men at the entrance, shut the door after him, 7 and said, “I beg you, my brothers, do not act so wickedly. 8 Behold, I have two daughters who have not known any man. Let me bring them out to you, and do to them as you please. Only do nothing to these men, for they have come under the shelter of my roof.” 9 But they said, “Stand back!” And they said, “This fellow came to sojourn, and he has become the judge! Now we will deal worse with you than with them.” Then they pressed hard against the man Lot, and drew near to break the door down. 10 But the men reached out their hands and brought Lot into the house with them and shut the door. 11 And they struck with blindness the men who were at the entrance of the house, both small and great, so that they wore themselves out groping for the door.

12 Then the men said to Lot, “Have you anyone else here? Sons-in-law, sons, daughters, or anyone you have in the city, bring them out of the place. 13 For we are about to destroy this place, because the outcry against its people has become great before the Lord, and the Lord has sent us to destroy it.” 14 So Lot went out and said to his sons-in-law, who were to marry his daughters, “Up! Get out of this place, for the Lord is about to destroy the city.” But he seemed to his sons-in-law to be jesting.

15 As morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be swept away in the punishment of the city.” 16 But he lingered. So the men seized him and his wife and his two daughters by the hand, the Lord being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city. 17 And as they brought them out, one said, “Escape for your life. Do not look back or stop anywhere in the valley. Escape to the hills, lest you be swept away.” 18 And Lot said to them, “Oh, no, my lords. 19 Behold, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have shown me great kindness in saving my life. But I cannot escape to the hills, lest the disaster overtake me and I die. 20 Behold, this city is near enough to flee to, and it is a little one. Let me escape there—is it not a little one?—and my life will be saved!” 21 He said to him, “Behold, I grant you this favor also, that I will not overthrow the city of which you have spoken. 22 Escape there quickly, for I can do nothing till you arrive there.” Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.

23 The sun had risen on the earth when Lot came to Zoar. 24 Then the Lord rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the Lord out of heaven. 25 And he overthrew those cities, and all the valley, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground. 26 But Lot’s wife, behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.

27 And Abraham went early in the morning to the place where he had stood before the Lord. 28 And he looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah and toward all the land of the valley, and he looked and, behold, the smoke of the land went up like the smoke of a furnace.

29 So it was that, when God destroyed the cities of the valley, God remembered Abraham and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow when he overthrew the cities in which Lot had lived.

30 Now Lot went up out of Zoar and lived in the hills with his two daughters, for he was afraid to live in Zoar. So he lived in a cave with his two daughters. 31 And the firstborn said to the younger, “Our father is old, and there is not a man on earth to come in to us after the manner of all the earth. 32 Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve offspring from our father.” 33 So they made their father drink wine that night. And the firstborn went in and lay with her father. He did not know when she lay down or when she arose.

34 The next day, the firstborn said to the younger, “Behold, I lay last night with my father. Let us make him drink wine tonight also. Then you go in and lie with him, that we may preserve offspring from our father.” 35 So they made their father drink wine that night also. And the younger arose and lay with him, and he did not know when she lay down or when she arose. 36 Thus both the daughters of Lot became pregnant by their father. 37 The firstborn bore a son and called his name Moab. He is the father of the Moabites to this day. 38 The younger also bore a son and called his name Ben-ammi. He is the father of the Ammonites to this day.

34:1 Draw near, O nations, to hear,and give attention, O peoples!Let the earth hear, and all that fills it;the world, and all that comes from it.2 For the Lord is enraged against all the nations,and furious against all their host;he has devoted them to destruction, has given them over for slaughter.3 Their slain shall be cast out,and the stench of their corpses shall rise;the mountains shall flow with their blood.4 All the host of heaven shall rot away,and the skies roll up like a scroll.All their host shall fall,as leaves fall from the vine,like leaves falling from the fig tree.

5 For my sword has drunk its fill in the heavens;behold, it descends for judgment upon Edom,upon the people I have devoted to destruction.6 The Lord has a sword; it is sated with blood;it is gorged with fat,with the blood of lambs and goats,with the fat of the kidneys of rams.For the Lord has a sacrifice in Bozrah,a great slaughter in the land of Edom.7 Wild oxen shall fall with them,and young steers with the mighty bulls.Their land shall drink its fill of blood,and their soil shall be gorged with fat.

8 For the Lord has a day of vengeance,a year of recompense for the cause of Zion.9 And the streams of Edom shall be turned into pitch,and her soil into sulfur;her land shall become burning pitch.10 Night and day it shall not be quenched;its smoke shall go up forever.From generation to generation it shall lie waste;none shall pass through it forever and ever.11 But the hawk and the porcupine shall possess it,the owl and the raven shall dwell in it.He shall stretch the line of confusion over it,and the plumb line of emptiness.12 Its nobles—there is no one there to call it a kingdom,and all its princes shall be nothing.

13 Thorns shall grow over its strongholds,nettles and thistles in its fortresses.It shall be the haunt of jackals,an abode for ostriches.14 And wild animals shall meet with hyenas;the wild goat shall cry to his fellow;indeed, there the night bird settlesand finds for herself a resting place.

15 There the owl nests and laysand hatches and gathers her young in her shadow;indeed, there the hawks are gathered,each one with her mate.16 Seek and read from the book of the Lord:Not one of these shall be missing;none shall be without her mate.For the mouth of the Lord has commanded,and his Spirit has gathered them.17 He has cast the lot for them;his hand has portioned it out to them with the line;they shall possess it forever;from generation to generation they shall dwell in it.

9 And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.”

9 And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.”

20:1 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. 2 And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, 3 and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while.

4 Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.

7 And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. 9 And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, 10 and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. 13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. 14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,

4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”